Jeannie,
Sorry to hear your mother passed away.
I remember her for the soft lilt of her voice.

Some play music, some sing along to it, dance to it, or simply listen to it. 
But for Grandma, music was an integral part of her soul.  Everything she did, skate, dance, nurse and love her family was done with the beauty of a symphony. 

My first memories of her are picking her up at the airport. Her curly hair was always so neatly done. Before we could even get to the car I would be begging, 
“Grandma what did you bring for me this time?” and once she would begin unpacking her suitcase the most beautiful dolls would appear for my sister and I. 

I remember going to visit grandma and grandpa in Fair Oaks as a child. 
Hanging on the wall in my grandparent's bedroom was a huge painting, “The Dancer.” The slender figure of a sassy lady with a beautiful red leotard posed. 
She seems to eagerly await the cue of the music. 
Dark hair neatly styled at her shoulders, red high heels fastened and shoulders back ready to charge onto the stage.  Grandpa's portrayal of her gregarious personality in this painting is impeccable. 

The perfect harmony of strength and grace can be found on the ice. 
Feeling the power of a skate blade against the ice filled grandma's spirit with joy. No one was more fitted to all of the twirling and dancing to the music than my grandmother. Her love of music and performance made her a natural figure skater. 

All the way to the very end, music had a hold on grandma's soul. 
We would sit in her bedroom and turn the CD player on. Once the notes reached her ears she would stop whatever she was doing and her eyes would be filled with love almost to the point of tears. She'd jump up, grab your hands and start dancing around the room smiling and laughing. 

In her last days a reverend would come and play hymns for her on his guitar. One night as we sang along to The Old Rugged Cross I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the life she had led. 

Her life was a song of devotion to her husband Dave and their three children. 
It was a melody to each hurting patient she cared for in her days as a nurse. 
It was a chorus of encouragement to every soul that crossed her path. 
Never has someone lived a more beautiful song than my Grandmother Jean.

Jean Lander – A Celebration of Life
 “What is there to do when people die- people so dear and rare but bring them back by remembering?” 
This is how I remember Jean…….
• She loved time spent with family at a BBQ or pool party
• She worked hard as a mom and nurse and enjoyed every minute of both
• Her warm, caring nature was felt by all around her.
• Sweet but tough when she needed to be
• Liked cute hats, denim shirts, and Jermain Montae perfume
• Loved Phantom of the Opera and the music of Johnny Cash
• Dancing in the Valentine dancers troop and enjoyed macaroons from Thunder Valley
• She said, “sure” and” how you doing?”  
As a daughter, she was cherished by her parents.  Gram Woods and Jean shared the same birthday and celebrated together often.  They became very close when Gram moved to California and lived next door.  Jean and Dave loved the time spent with her elderly parents.  
Her brother, Ken told me a story of their childhood.  Their dad brought home a couple sets of boxing gloves.  He said, “Jean was a fighter.  So tough that she would beat up on her brothers”.  Let's just say……….she was able to take care of herself.  
We received many lovely sentiments from friends and family.  One of the sympathy cards we received from Blair and Dolores said, “Dave and Jean were the greatest of couples”. They shared 54 years of marriage.  Inseparable.  Very loving to each other.  Happiest together. Sandra, Jean's niece wrote in a card, “It feels like the universe is back in balance your parents are together again.” They had a great love and have been a wonderful example to us.  
A working mother of three, Jean is loving remembered as being involved with her kids in ice skating, skiing, and planning family time at Dillon's Beach.  Win didn't like that his mom worked evening shift at the hospital, but was happy to have his Gram next door after school. Even after working the evening before, mom took Jeannie and Win to Skateland in downtown Sacramento many early mornings. Jean studied and practiced for the National Figure Skating tests. Jeannie was inspired by her mom's love of skating and followed along. Win skated his figure 8 and asked for ice cream sandwiches from the machine and hoped to stop at the Island Taco Bell on the way home. Jeannie and Bret were married and moved to Colorado.  Win joined the Air Force, married me and ended up in Nebraska.  Blair lived in California and remained close to mom and dad.  Jean made the holidays memorable—the Christmas mornings were a thrill to the kids as they opened their gifts.  Jean was very proud of her children and all their accomplishments.
Jean worked as a nurse for over 40 years.  She was smart, alert, and compassionate.  Her last job was a recovery room RN.  When the patient opened their eyes after surgery…Jean was there .Her sister-in-law, Eunice Woods went to nursing school with Jean and shared a story about her with me.  Eunice told me that Jean was the best head nurse.  She would go toe to toe and nose to nose with doctors to be an advocate for the patient.  Jean and I had nursing in common.  We would talk about what was new in nursing and the patients that I cared for in the ICU.  We talked about taking the Advanced Cardiac Life Support or ACLS classes that we both had to take.  Jean taught me to remember the medications and defibrillation shock sequence by a little jingle.  It went like this:  Shock, shock, shock.  Everybody Shock, Big Shock, Little Shock, Shock, shock, shock!  If you ever responded to a code blue then you know what I mean. Jean was a nurse and always a nurse!  Even in the end stages of Alzheimer's, Jean was caring.  She would hold your hands, rub your back or leg, or be found helping another resident at Ashley Manor in the wheel chair. 
I remember the first time I met Jean.  I felt loved and accepted by her.  We had a few things in common:  we both loved her son and we were both nurses.  Jean had a very endearing quality about her and maybe you have experienced this yourself. She would cup your face in her hands, trace your eyebrows, smile lines and chin and say beautiful, strong or handsome.  
Jean loved to cuddle her grandkids.  She loved to hear what the “little ones” were doing.  Liked getting new pictures and seeing how much they had grown. Dave and Jean loved the time with grandkids and the sounds of laughter and splashing in the pool.  
So today we remember Jean…….
Her laugh.  Her smile. Her voice. Her style. Her strength. Her poise. Her gifts. Her joys.
Her words. Her grace. Her eyes. Her face.  Her love. Her life.

Grandma was the example of love and caring. She made everyone around her feel special and beautiful. I will always strive to live as colorful and meaningful a life as my sweet grandmother.

Jeannie,
I was sorry to read in the paper today about your mother's passing. I know the pain you feel. I lost my mom last March. I send my condolensces to you and your family. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

OBITUARY

Jean DesChamp Lander

May 31, 1929 – December 21, 2014

Mount Vernon Memorial Park & Mortuary

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services